Pistol Compensator

ABSTRACT

A compensator for a pistol is described. In one example, a compensator includes an outer surface, a coupling, and an aperture. The outer surface is configured to mimic an outer surface of a slide of a pistol, to which, the compensator is to be attached. The coupling is configured to support removable attachment to a barrel of the pistol. The aperture is configured to support movement of a bullet through when fired through the barrel of the pistol.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 62/278,833, filed Jan. 14, 2016 to Adrian Chavez, and titled “PistolCompensator,” the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated byreference.

BACKGROUND

Compensators are typically used to compensate against barrel rise (i.e.,muzzle rise) when firing a firearm. Conventional compensators, however,may permit entry of contaminates, require expensive additional parts,and so forth and thus even if available are generally avoided byconsumers.

SUMMARY

A compensator for a pistol is described. In one example, a compensatorincludes an outer surface, a coupling, and an aperture. The outersurface is configured to mimic an outer surface of a slide of a pistol,to which, the compensator is to be attached. The coupling is configuredto support removable attachment to a barrel of the pistol. The apertureis configured to support movement of a bullet through when fired throughthe barrel of the pistol.

In another example, a compensator is formed from a single integralportion of metal having an outer surface, a coupling, and an aperture.The outer surface has a sight portion configured to support attachmentof at least one optical sight that is viewable by a user to aim apistol. The coupling is configured to support removable attachment to abarrel of the pistol. The aperture is configured to support movement ofa bullet through when fired through the barrel of the pistol.

In a further example, a system includes a pistol having a slideconfigured to support movement to eject a shell when fired and acompensator. The compensator is configured to support removableattachment to a barrel of the pistol. The compensator includes an outersurface having a sight portion having at least one optical sight that isviewable by a user to aim a pistol in which movement of the slide isisolated from movement of the at least one optical sight and an apertureconfigured to support movement of a bullet there-through when firedthrough the barrel of the pistol.

This Summary introduces a selection of concepts in a simplified formthat are further described below in the Detailed Description. As such,this Summary is not intended to identify essential features of theclaimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid indetermining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanyingfigures. Entities represented in the figures may be indicative of one ormore entities and thus reference may be made interchangeably to singleor plural forms of the entities in the discussion.

FIG. 1 depicts an isometric view of a compensator as removably attachedto a firearm.

FIGS. 2A and 2B depict respective side views of the compensator of FIG.1 as attached to a barrel of the firearm.

FIGS. 3A and 3B depict respective isometric views of the compensator ofFIG. 1 as attached to a barrel of a firearm and having an outer surfacethat mimics an outer surface of a slide of the firearm.

FIGS. 4A and 4B depict solid and wire side views, respectively, of acompensator configured to attach an optical sight thereto and asattached to a slide of a firearm.

FIGS. 5A and 5B depict solid and wire isometric views, respectively, ofa compensator configured to attach an optical sight thereto and asattached to a slide of a firearm.

FIGS. 6A and 6B depict solid and wire top views, respectively, of acompensator configured to attach an optical sight thereto and asattached to a slide of a firearm.

FIGS. 7A and 7B depict solid and wire bottom views, respectively, of acompensator configured to attach an optical sight thereto and asattached to a slide of a firearm.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 depicts an isometric view of a compensator 102 as removablyattached to a firearm 104. The compensator 102 in this example is formedas a single piece of metal that is attached to a barrel of the firearm102 as further shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Outer dimensions of thecompensator 102 are configured to match those of a slide 104 of thepistol. This provides a uniform surface and reduces a potential ofencountering a snag when the firearm 104 with compensator is drawn froma holster or other holder.

An aperture 108 is included on an end along an axis that follows abarrel of the pistol 106 to permit passage of a bullet when fired. Thecompensator 102 also includes first and second vents 110, 112 (e.g., boxflutes) positioned at a top surface of the compensator 102 that areoperable to compensate for muzzle rise due to firing of a bullet byventing expanding gases. Additionally, first and second side vents 114,116 (e.g., box flutes) are also included that are also configured tocompensate against movement when the pistol 106 is fired. Otherimplementations are also contemplated in which vents are not included,e.g., the compensator relies on the weight of the compensator itself toreduce movement when fired.

The compensator 102 further includes a securing portion 118, which inthis instance is a set screw that is configured to engage a flattened(e.g., milled) portion of a barrel of the firearm. This allows an outersurface of the compensator 102 to be efficiently aligned with an outersurface of a slide of the firearm 104 as further described in relationto FIGS. 3A-3B.

FIGS. 2A and 2B depict respective side views 200, 250 of the compensator102 as attached to a barrel 202 of the firearm 104. The followingdiscussion refers interchangeably to FIGS. 2A and 2B. In this example,an attachment portion 204 is configured through the use of threads toattach the compensator to a barrel of the firearm 104. Other examplesare also contemplated, such as to employ a pin-and-grove arrangement.

As shown in FIG. 2B, the compensator 102 is configured to remainstationary independent of motion of a slide 206 of the firearm that isused to eject a cartridge of a bullet after firing. The optical sight208 in this example, however, is not. Thus, movement of the opticalsight 208 in this example may make it difficult for an operator to makea follow-up shot. However, in the example implementations described inrelation to FIGS. 4A-7B, the compensator 102 is configured to mount theoptical sight thereto, which may then be removed from the slide 206 ofthe firearm 104. By doing this, a front sight will actually sit on thecompensator 102, and thus be attached to a barrel of the firearm 104. Inthis way, the front sight remains more-or-less stationary when thefirearm 104 is fired, allowing for increased efficiency in a follow-upshot. This also allows the slide 206 to be lightened without cuttingholes in it. This and other examples are further described in thefollowing in relation to and shown in corresponding FIGS. 4A-7B.

FIGS. 3A and 3B depict respective isometric views 300, 350 of thecompensator 102 as attached to a barrel 202 of the firearm 104 andhaving an outer surface that mimics an outer surface of a slide of thefirearm 104. The following discussion refers interchangeably to FIGS. 3Aand 3B. In this example, an interior of the barrel and aperture 108define a longitudinal axis. The compensator 102 is configured such thatan outer surface of the compensator 102 as defined by a plane takenperpendicular to the longitudinal axis mimics an outer surface of theslide 206. For example, the outer surface of the compensator in thisexample does not extend along this plane, generally, outside the outersurface defined by the slide 104, absent the optical sight in someexamples as described in relation to FIGS. 4A-7B.

As depicted, for instance, the slide 206 of the firearm 104 includes atop outer surface 302 and first and second side surfaces 304, 306 thatoppose each other. Likewise, the compensator 102 includes a top outersurface 308 and first and second side surfaces 310, 312 that oppose eachother. The compensator 102 is configured such that the top outer surface302 and first and second side surfaces 304, 306 of the slide 206 arecontinuous with the top outer surface 308 and first and second sidesurfaces 310, 312 of the compensator 102. This also includes corners314, 316 of the slide 206 that are formed to provide a generallycontinuous surface with corners 318, 320 of the compensator 102. Thisprovides a uniform surface and reduces a potential of encountering asnag when the firearm 104 with compensator 102 is drawn from a holsteror other holder. In additional implementations, this surface remainscontinuous even with the addition of textures or other features used toimprove grip.

FIGS. 4A and 4B depict solid 400 and wire 450 side views, respectively,of a compensator 102 configured to attach an optical sight thereto andas attached to a slide 206 of a firearm. FIGS. 5A and 5B depict solid500 and wire 550 isometric views, respectively, of a compensator 102configured to attach an optical sight thereto and as attached to a slide206 of a firearm. FIGS. 6A and 6B depict solid 600 and wire 650 topviews, respectively, of a compensator 102 configured to attach anoptical sight thereto and as attached to a slide 206 of a firearm. FIGS.7A and 7B depict solid 700 and wire 750 bottom views, respectively, of acompensator 102 configured to attach an optical sight thereto and asattached to a slide 206 of a firearm.

The compensator 102 in this example includes sight portions 502, 504configured as channels (e.g., “cut outs”) formed within the metal of thecompensator 102 that is configured to accept an optical sight as a keythat attaches to the channels. Therefore, through attachment of thecompensator 102 to the barrel 202 of the firearm 104, the compensator102 stays stationary and independent of movement of the slide 206, e.g.,when firing the firearm 104. This permits an operator of the firearm 104to maintain and/or reacquire sighting of the firearm 104 between shotsin an efficient and intuitive manner, which is not possible inconventional compensators.

CONCLUSION

Although the invention has been described in language specific tostructural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understoodthat the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarilylimited to the specific features or acts described. Rather, the specificfeatures and acts are disclosed as example forms of implementing theclaimed invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A compensator comprising: an outer surface thatmimics an outer surface of a slide of a pistol, to which, thecompensator is to be attached; a coupling configured to supportremovable attachment to a barrel of the pistol; and an apertureconfigured to support movement of a bullet through when fired throughthe barrel of the pistol.
 2. A compensator as described in claim 1,further comprising one or more vents configured to vent gases when abullet is fired by the pistol.
 3. A compensator as described in claim 2,wherein the one or more vents are configured to reduce movement of thepistol when the bullet is fired through venting of the gases.
 4. Acompensator as described in claim 1, wherein the coupling that supportsremovable attachment is achieved through a threaded arrangement with thebarrel of the pistol.
 5. A compensator as described in claim 1, whereinthe coupling that supports removable attachment is achieved throughpin-and-grove arrangement with the barrel of the pistol.
 6. Acompensator as described in claim 1, further comprising a sight portionconfigured to support attachment of at least one optical sight that isviewable by a user to aim the pistol.
 7. A compensator as described inclaim 6, wherein the at least one optical sight is isolated frommovement of a slide of the pistol when the pistol is fired.
 8. Acompensator as described in claim 6, wherein the at least one opticalsight is a holographic sight.
 9. A compensator as described in claim 6,wherein the at least one optical sight is an iron sight.
 10. Acompensator comprising: a single integral portion of metal having; anouter surface having a sight portion configured to support attachment ofat least one optical sight that is viewable by a user to aim a pistol; acoupling configured to support removable attachment to a barrel of thepistol; and an aperture configured to support movement of a bullet whenfired through the barrel of the pistol.
 11. A compensator as describedin claim 10, further comprising one or more vents configured to ventgases when a bullet is fired by the pistol.
 12. A compensator asdescribed in claim 11, wherein the one or more vents are configured toreduce movement of the pistol when the bullet is fired through ventingof the gases.
 13. A compensator as described in claim 10, wherein thecoupling that supports removable attachment is achieved through athreaded arrangement with the barrel of the pistol.
 14. A compensator asdescribed in claim 10, wherein the coupling that supports removableattachment is achieved through pin-and-grove arrangement with the barrelof the pistol.
 15. A compensator as described in claim 10, wherein theat least one optical sight is isolated from movement of a slide of thepistol when the pistol is fired.
 16. A system comprising: a pistolhaving a slide configured to support movement to eject a shell whenfired; and a compensator supporting removable attachment to a barrel ofthe pistol, the compensator including: an outer surface having a sightportion having at least one optical sight that is viewable by a user toaim a pistol in which movement of the slide is isolated from movement ofthe at least one optical sight; and an aperture configured to supportmovement of a bullet there-through when fired through the barrel of thepistol.
 17. A system as described in claim 16, wherein the compensatorfurther comprises one or more vents configured to vent gases when abullet is fired by the pistol.
 18. A system as described in claim 16,wherein the one or more vents are configured to reduce movement of thepistol when the bullet is fired through venting of the gases.
 19. Asystem as described in claim 16, wherein the at least one optical sightis a holographic sight.
 20. A system as described in claim 16, whereinthe at least one optical sight is an iron sight.